Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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458. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a licensed public house that has a main business activity as food can reopen under phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9026/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three week intervals. The Roadmap sets out how we can keep the level of transmission of COVID-19 as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions in proportion with the positive social and economic benefits which will be brought about by businesses reopening.

On 15 May the Government announced that we would move to Phase 1 of the Roadmap from 18 May. This decision was taken having regard to the advice received from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at the time. The categories of workers, list of retailers and other facilities that can reopen under Phase 1 are available on the Government’s website gov.ie.

Businesses should review the Roadmap carefully and carry out a detailed assessment of their activities with regard to the continuing public health measures. Businesses should, based on their assessment, identify which category in which phase of reopening they will be in a position to reopen safely and in line with the continued public health measures. It is not necessary for businesses to seek official authorisation to reopen.

The National Return to Work Safely Protocol is a useful guide for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and employees the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate. The Protocol is available at The Health and Safety Authority, which is an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.

In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward for weeks and months ahead.For a full list of supports for business please see .

I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country. I know that employers and employees want to get back to work and I support them in that ambition, but it must be safe to do so. My Department contributed to the considerations around the phased re-opening of sectors under Phase 1 and I will work within Government to secure further details and clarity for businesses as we progress through the phases outlined in the Roadmap.

It is important to note that all decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions as envisaged in Phases 2 to 5 of the Roadmap will be informed by the public health advice at the time.

My Department does not have responsibility for issuing restaurant licences; such licences are obtained from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners following an application through the Courts. Pending further announcements regarding which businesses can reopen under Phases 2 to 5 of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, the following link to the Revenue website may be useful -

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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459. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider the parallel opening of large and small retail premises in Dublin to alleviate the issue of queuing and street congestion and to facilitate greater individual personal space around general mobility within the city and suburban centres to ensure maximum safety and minimum queuing. [9034/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three-week intervals. The Roadmap sets out how we can keep the level of transmission of COVID-19 as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions in proportion with the positive social and economic benefits which will be brought about by businesses reopening. It is important to note that all decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions will be guided by the public health advice at the time.

On 15 May the Government announced that we would move to Phase 1 of the Roadmap from 18 May. This decision was taken having regard to the advice received from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at the time.

Government continues to monitor progress on Phase 1 will assess that progress this week.

Businesses should review the Roadmap carefully and carry out a detailed assessment of their activities with regard to the continuing public health measures. Businesses should, based on their assessment, identify which category in which phase of reopening they will be in a position to reopen safely and in line with the continued public health measures. It is not necessary for businesses to seek official authorisation to reopen.

The National Return to Work Safely Protocol is a useful guide for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and employees the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate. The Protocol is available at The Health and Safety Authority, which is an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.

I understand from my colleague Shane Ross T.D., Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport that the National Transport Authority (NTA) is engaging with local authorities to support them in the development of COVID Mobility plans and importantly to also support the local authorities in their delivery of required infrastructure improvements. Dublin City Council (DCC) and the NTA have already published a framework of proposals to address the new and urgent needs relating to commercial activity and mobility in Dublin City Centre. As we move through the phases of the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business, improvements introduced under these plans will play an important role in providing additional transport capacity and also facilitating social distancing in urban areas.

The NTA has written to all 31 local authorities to offer its financial and technical support and this support will be funded through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s sustainable mobility investment programme. The NTA envisages a range of measures may be required in our cities and towns, such as:

- Widening of footpaths to facilitate queuing outside shops and enable social distancing;

- Potential pedestrianisation of some streets where necessary and feasible to accommodate social distancing, particularly where this supports business activities;

- Potential one-way systems to create space for footpath widening;

- Altering traffic signal times to reduce pedestrian waiting/crowding plus the automatic activation of some pedestrian phases in order to to aid pedestrian movement and to minimise contact with signal push buttons;

- Providing additional temporary facilities for cyclists; and

- Provision of some external space where appropriate to support business activities.

I understand that some local authorities have already put improvements in place to facilitate increased active travel and it is expected these improvements will continue in the coming weeks and months.

Also, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring T.D. has recently announced a new €15 million call under his Department's Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020 which has been tailored to address the emerging challenges associated with COVID-19. This means:

- A focus under the standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme on interventions that can respond to the new challenges associated with COVID-19 and support the economic and social recovery of rural towns and villages;

- The introduction of a new strand of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020 that focuses on immediate interventions that can be delivered in the short-term to assist towns and villages to adapt to COVID-19.

Full details of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020 can be found at

A wide range of financial supports and guidance has been made available by my Department and wider Government to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Full details of all supports and guidance is available at

Finally, it is important that all businesses check for the latest information, public health advice and guidelines from Government in relation to Covid-19.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if consideration has been given by the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business planners to time and space rationing and staggering in Dublin (details supplied). [9035/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three week intervals. The Roadmap sets out how we can keep the level of transmission of COVID-19 as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions in proportion with the positive social and economic benefits which will be brought about by businesses reopening. 

The National Return to Work Safely Protocol is a useful guide for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and employees the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate. The Protocol is available at .

The Health and Safety Authority, which is an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in the workplace.  If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.

In addition to the above instruments which are designed to reopen our economy in  a safe manner, I understand from the Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport that the National Transport Authority (NTA) is engaging with local authorities to support them in the development of COVID Mobility plans and, importantly, to also support the local authorities in their delivery of required infrastructure improvements. Dublin City Council (DCC) and the NTA have already published a framework of proposals to address the new and urgent needs relating to commercial activity and mobility in Dublin City Centre. As we move through the phases of Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business, improvements introduced under these plans will play an important role in providing additional transport capacity and also facilitating social distancing in urban areas.

The NTA has written to all 31 local authorities to offer its financial and technical support and this support will be funded through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s sustainable mobility investment programme. The NTA envisages a range of measures may be required in our cities and towns, such as:

- Widening of footpaths to facilitate queuing outside shops and enable social distancing;

- Potential pedestrianisation of some streets where necessary and feasible to accommodate social distancing, particularly where this supports business activities;

- Potential one-way systems to create space for footpath widening;

- Altering traffic signal times to reduce pedestrian waiting/crowding plus the automatic activation of some pedestrian phases in order to aid pedestrian movement and to minimise contact with signal push buttons;

- Providing additional temporary facilities for cyclists; and

- Provision of some external space where appropriate to support business activities.

I understand that some local authorities have already put improvements in place to facilitate increased active travel and it is expected these improvements will continue in the coming weeks and months.

I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country. I know that employers and employees want to get back to work and I support them in that ambition, but it must be safe to do so.  My Department contributed to the considerations around the phased re-opening of sectors and I will work within Government to secure further details and clarity for businesses as we progress through the phases outlined in the Roadmap.

It is important to note that all decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions as envisaged in Phases 2 to 5 of the Roadmap will be informed by the public health advice at the time.